kids encyclopedia robot

Labette County, Kansas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Labette County
Big Hill Lake (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Labette County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Kansas
Founded February 26, 1867
Named for Pierre La Bette
Seat Oswego
Largest city Parsons
Area
 • Total 653 sq mi (1,690 km2)
 • Land 645 sq mi (1,670 km2)
 • Water 7.8 sq mi (20 km2)  1.2%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 20,184
 • Density 31.3/sq mi (12.1/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code 620
Congressional district 2nd

Labette County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Oswego, and its most populous city is Parsons. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 20,184. The county was named after LaBette creek, the second-largest creek in the county, which runs roughly NNW-SSE from near Parsons to Chetopa. The creek in turn was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette who had moved to the area, living along the Neosho River, and marrying into the Osage tribe in the 1830s and 1840s.

History

In the 1840s Labette County had a population mainly consisting of Osage people, although there were also many Cherokee and Euro-Americans. Many of the Euro-Americans were merchants with Osage or Cherokee wives.

Between 1871 and 1873, at least eleven people vanished in the vicinity of an inn and general store operated by the Bender family in Labette County. Following the disappearance of the Benders in 1873, it was discovered that they had apparently murdered a number of travellers. Between eight and eleven bodies were discovered buried on the premises. Governor Thomas A. Osborn offered a reward of $2,000 for the apprehension of the Benders, but they were never found.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 653 square miles (1,690 km2), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 7.8 square miles (20 km2) (1.2%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

USA Labette County, Kansas age pyramid
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 9,973
1880 22,735 128.0%
1890 27,586 21.3%
1900 27,387 −0.7%
1910 31,423 14.7%
1920 34,047 8.4%
1930 31,346 −7.9%
1940 30,352 −3.2%
1950 29,285 −3.5%
1960 26,805 −8.5%
1970 25,775 −3.8%
1980 25,682 −0.4%
1990 23,693 −7.7%
2000 22,169 −6.4%
2010 21,607 −2.5%
2020 20,184 −6.6%
2023 (est.) 19,728 −8.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

The Parsons, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Labette County.

As of the 2010 Census Labette County had a population of 21,607. The median age was 41. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 85.5% non-Hispanic white, 4.7% African-American, 2.2% Native America, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanics of some other race, 3.6% non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 4.0% Hispanic or Latino.

As of the 2000 census, there were 22,835 people, 9,194 households, and 6,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 inhabitants per square mile (14/km2). There were 10,306 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.28% White, 4.66% Black or African American, 1.95% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.07% of the population.

There were 9,194 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,875, and the median income for a family was $37,519. Males had a median income of $29,043 versus $21,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,525. About 8.90% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Colleges

  • Labette Community College

Unified school districts

  • Parsons USD 503
  • Oswego USD 504
  • Chetopa–St. Paul USD 505
  • Labette County USD 506
District Office In Neighboring County
  • Southeast USD 247

Communities

Map of Labette Co, Ks, USA
2005 map of Labette County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Labette County.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost towns

  • Mortimer

Townships

Labette County is divided into sixteen townships. The cities of Chetopa, Oswego, and Parsons are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Township FIPS Population
center
Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi)
Land area
km2 (sq mi)
Water area
km2 (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Canada 10325 217 2 (5) 103 (40) 0 (0) 0.22% 37°6′18″N 95°27′4″W / 37.10500°N 95.45111°W / 37.10500; -95.45111
Elm Grove 20750 798 6 (16) 130 (50) 0 (0) 0.17% 37°3′22″N 95°20′12″W / 37.05611°N 95.33667°W / 37.05611; -95.33667
Fairview 22550 239 3 (7) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.11% 37°10′9″N 95°12′6″W / 37.16917°N 95.20167°W / 37.16917; -95.20167
Hackberry 29350 403 3 (8) 131 (51) 0 (0) 0.15% 37°3′30″N 95°12′44″W / 37.05833°N 95.21222°W / 37.05833; -95.21222
Howard 33300 357 3 (8) 111 (43) 0 (0) 0.13% 37°2′23″N 95°27′33″W / 37.03972°N 95.45917°W / 37.03972; -95.45917
Labette 37400 373 4 (10) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.18% 37°15′43″N 95°18′54″W / 37.26194°N 95.31500°W / 37.26194; -95.31500
Liberty 40175 395 4 (11) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0.11% 37°15′47″N 95°11′45″W / 37.26306°N 95.19583°W / 37.26306; -95.19583
Montana 47850 179 3 (7) 71 (27) 1 (1) 1.90% 37°15′28″N 95°7′34″W / 37.25778°N 95.12611°W / 37.25778; -95.12611
Mound Valley 48850 806 5 (13) 166 (64) 0 (0) 0.11% 37°12′30″N 95°25′40″W / 37.20833°N 95.42778°W / 37.20833; -95.42778
Mount Pleasant 48950 1,351 14 (37) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.34% 37°10′50″N 95°18′14″W / 37.18056°N 95.30389°W / 37.18056; -95.30389
Neosho 49775 222 3 (8) 70 (27) 2 (1) 2.40% 37°20′11″N 95°6′37″W / 37.33639°N 95.11028°W / 37.33639; -95.11028
North 50975 612 7 (19) 83 (32) 0 (0) 0.16% 37°19′39″N 95°12′40″W / 37.32750°N 95.21111°W / 37.32750; -95.21111
Osage 53150 703 4 (12) 157 (61) 5 (2) 2.93% 37°20′4″N 95°26′18″W / 37.33444°N 95.43833°W / 37.33444; -95.43833
Oswego 53475 310 5 (12) 66 (25) 1 (0) 1.73% 37°9′21″N 95°6′22″W / 37.15583°N 95.10611°W / 37.15583; -95.10611
Richland 59425 303 3 (8) 97 (38) 0 (0) 0.43% 37°3′29″N 95°6′19″W / 37.05806°N 95.10528°W / 37.05806; -95.10528
Walton 75250 726 9 (23) 83 (32) 0 (0) 0.16% 37°20′59″N 95°19′2″W / 37.34972°N 95.31722°W / 37.34972; -95.31722
Sources:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Labette para niños

kids search engine
Labette County, Kansas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.